Obama Administration Proposes Tougher Clean Air Standards

WASHINGTON — (AP) _ The Obama administration is proposing to strengthen a key air pollution health standard.

The Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it wants to tighten the requirement for the level of nitrogen dioxide concentration in the air.

Nitrogen dioxide is released from motor vehicles, coal burning power plants and factories. It can cause respiratory problems and is of special danger to children and people suffering from asthma. The federal healthy air standard for nitrogen oxide has not been changed in 35 years.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said the proposal reflects the latest scientific findings on what is needed to protect people's health.

The EPA proposal is the first step in changing the standard.

Comments

[plantguy]

This country is going to be a very poor place to live soon.

[Exusian]

And that, in a nutshell, is the argument of those who want the absolute freedom to dump their waste into the environmental commons at will without restriction or direct cost to themselves.

[sc300nc]

More gov't. More regulations. More costs. More taxes. Less freedom.

[KillTheMessenger]

Better air... who wouldn't need that? Well, maybe those who spend their lives in parental basements may not.

[DailyElitist]

Well, in this case, such regulations are warranted. Unlike CO2, nitrogen dioxide is a real pollutant that causes harm to real people. Why do you believe polluters have the "freedom" to dump their costs onto society at large uninhibited?

[angrydove]

What do you owe to corporations that pollute your air? I don't understand your allegiance. Do they care about your sick children?